December 17, 2012 Table Of Contents
SI.com
LEADING OFF
THE MAIL
Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS
Manny Pacquiao may well fight again, but after being knocked cold by Juan Manuel Màrquez in a ferocious fourth fight, the Filipino superstar has lost his aura
By Chris Mannix
A look at the Illini's fast start, a bold opening day plan and the top freshman
By Seth Davis
By Luke Winn
The Case For ... A Defensive MVP
Section Table of Contents
PRO FOOTBALL
CALL HIM A HANGDOG HERO, A SAD-SACK SUPERMAN, KID BROTHER TO A LEGEND—BUT WOULD YOU BET AGAINST ELI MANNING WHEN IT'S ALL ON THE LINE IN FEBRUARY? THE MVP OF TWO SUPER BOWLS, A SCION OF FOOTBALL'S FIRST FAMILY AND THE ULTIMATE GAMER, THE GIANTS' QUARTERBACK HAS FORCED US TO RETHINK WHAT WE EXPECT IN A STAR
By S.L. Price
PRO BASKETBALL
The Politicization of Jeremy Lin
THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN THE YEAR'S BEST UNDERDOG STORY, THE POINT GUARD WHO CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. THE PROBLEM IS, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE WANT TO CLAIM THE SUDDEN GLOBAL CELEBRITY AS THEIR OWN
By Albert Chen
OLYMPICS
DICKEY AND HARRISON
Imagine, a century from now, looking back on the plague of sexual abuse. Two bright spots in this dark history will be Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey and judo gold Kayla Harrison, who refused to be silent victims.
By Gary Smith
POINT AFTER
A Victory That Means Much More
By Jeff Olson
Departments
Eighteen years after it began in Seattle, the career of Alex Rodriguez draws to a close amid injury and ill will. Did we miss its true measure?
By Joe Sheehan
Taciturn and, well, dull on the sideline, Eric Mangini on camera is smart, informative and engaging
Thanks to improved drug testing, a silver medalist may move up
By Tim Layden
By Jim Trotter
Edited by Alexandra Fenwick
By Dan Patrick